Kogi gov rescues Bello as EFCC operatives end siege at Abuja house

The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have left the home of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Abuja over alleged N84 billion fraud.

The Star had reported that EFCC operatives, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, mounted surveillance around Bello’s house in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, apparently to arrest the former governor.

The anti-graft agency had, on March 14, dragged Bello before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering offences.

The former governor was charged alongside his nephew, Ali Bello; and Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu.

However, the EFCC operatives retreated from Bello’s house shortly after incumbent Governor Usman Ododo arrived at his predecessor’s residence and left with the former governor.

An EFCC official was heard saying Bello was inside Ododo’s car that departed.

It was further gathered that the EFCC operatives withdrew over a court order which restrained the commission from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting Bello.

N84bn fraud: EFCC officers storm Yahaya Bello’s house in Abuja

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Wednesday, restrained the anti-graft agency from infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former governor.

Presiding judge Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining, and prosecuting Bello except as authorised by the court.

The judgement followed the suit brought before the court by Bello seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the EFCC.

Reacting to EFCC’s move on Wednesday, the media office of the ex-governor condemned the action and urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the anti-graft agency.

It stated that the presence of EFCC operatives in Bello’s residence “negated an injunction granted by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division, on February 9.”

It added: “The EFCC was duly served with that order on Feb. 12, and on Feb. 26, it filed Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024 at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

“The appeal was accompanied by a Motion for a Stay of Execution of the order of the Lokoja High Court, and the Court of Appeal fixed hearing for April 22.

“Contrary to all of these, the EFCC laid siege to the home of Yahaya Bello, seeking to arrest him in contravention of extant orders.

“It is a surprise that an agency led by a lawyer could flagrantly disobey a subsisting court order by taking actions contrary to reliefs granted.

“We are aware of the total commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s current administration to the rule of law.”

The Star